newbie question about PMK

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I have ordered some PMK and would like to give it a try on a few rolls of HP5+ (exposed at 400). Could anyone experienced with it give me some tips and suggestions- no one I know has ever tried it before. Also, how do you dispose of this stuff? Any special precautions?

-- courtney keane (cykeane@aol.com), May 25, 1999

Answers

Hi. I think you've made great choice with PMK. With HP5+ it gives nice results (EI 400 is too high try 250 - 320). You don't tell what kind of PMK did you get, powder or a liquid kit. If you have powder, be careful when mixing. Use face mask and gloves, pyro is quite toxic. Never put your hands in the solutions. About the way of disposal, you can contact your local water company, but I think it's safe to pour working strength solutions directly into the sink after use, it's very diluted.

-- Evgeni Poptoshev (evgeni.poptoshev@surfchem.kth.se), June 01, 1999.

You might try photographers formulary, book byGordon hutchings, bok of pyro. This should answer a questions on PMY. Good luck Marty B.

-- martin bucko (potocouple@webtv.ne), June 01, 1999.

You will find some information on PMK and pyro in general on my site at http://www.unblinkingeye.com in the article on Mixing Developers. Since the working solution is highly diluted and oxidizes very rapidly, there is no harm in simply pouring it down the drain after use. You should use great caution if you mix the dry chemicals yourself, since pyro-gallol is highly toxic. The pre-mixed liquid available from Photographers Formulary is considerably safer, since there is not the possibly of breathing pyro-gallol dust. The solution is however readily absorbed through the skin, so you should wear gloves when you mix it. A few drops of the dilute working solution occasionally on the skin is no cause for alarm and can simply be washed off, but you should avoid repeated contact with the concentrate. Direct ingestion of the pure chemical is another matter altogether--even as small a quantity as a gram would be fatal.

-- Ed Buffaloe (edbuffaloe@earthlink.net), June 04, 1999.

My very best negatives have come about because of using PMK; I think it's the best all-around developer for film you can find. I use primarily HP5 and expose it at the full 400 for my system. Good luck. Mike

-- Michael Langford (mike5@indian-creek.net), June 23, 1999.

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